finger fan

finger fan (plural finger fans)

1. A position in which the fingers of one hand are spread out to form a fan-like shape.
   • 1854, Robert Smith Surtees, Handley Cross: Or, Mr. Jorrocks's Hunt, page 405:

     Mr. Jorrocks was equally early, having been greatly tormented by the old cutomer, who had appeared to him in his dreams in a variety of ways -- now running between his legs and upsetting him, now nearly blinding him with a whisk over his eyes from his sandy brush, again, as the chairman of a convivial meeting of foxes who did nothing but laugh and make finger fans to their noses at him, crying, " Ah, cut his tail ! Cut his tail!"

   • 1992, Michael Doane, City of light: a novel, →ISBN, page 41:

     After years of practice she can manage a finger fan just past an octave and even for that there is pain.

   • 2015, Tanvi Bush, Witch Girl, →ISBN, page 66:

     Her hands were up behind her head in two finger fans that resembled ears.

   • 2017, Gayle Kimball, Your Mindful Guide to Academic Success: Prevent Burnout, →ISBN:

     Do knee pull, waist bend, and finger fan.

2. Synonym of finger mask
   • 2002, Dana Stabenow, A Fine and Bitter Snow, →ISBN, page 172:

     "We're singing for Dina today," Wilson said, "and you're dancing," and before he struck the second note and the singers got started on their first song, people were out in the middle of the gym floor, shoes off, feet moving and finger fans counting the beat

   • 2003, Jacques L. Condor, Raven's Children, →ISBN:

     In my moving hands I will hold finger fans of caribou hair.

3. (martial arts) A blow delivered to the face with fingers spread.
   • 1977 February, “Bruce Lee's Attack Strategies for Fighting (Part II)”, in Black Belt, volume 15, number 2, page 60:

     During gaps of combinations, insert: 1. non-commitements to distract the opponent, or to improve positioning or the flow. 2. delicacy to score without destroying the overall balance and flow of the combination (finger jabs, finger fan, finger flicks, backhand, palm thrust).

   • 2004, The Shaolin Grandmasters' Text:

     In truth, people who require fine use of their hands in their work (artists, surgeons, typists) may favor using palm strikes and finger fans over the more demanding fist or single-finger strikes.

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